Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Have you discovered Pinterest yet? It is a fabulous website where you "pin" your favorite images on to virtual boards. As Violet and I find photos that inspire us, we pin them on our Makeup Inspiration or our Hair Inspiration boards. Its a great way to virtually organize our inspirational thoughts for photo shoots and real clients.

Another feature I love is your friends or people that like your "pins" can follow your boards to see what inspires you. You can develop a fantastic like minded community and inspire each other...love that!

Here are a few images from our Makeup Inspiration board....

On the right side of our blog there is a red "Follow me on Pinterest"..click it to see what inspires me or click the link at the top of the page. Request and account and start following our boards, I can't wait to follow yours and see what inspires you too!

The Makeup Dolls can be booked for bridal, engagement, boudoir, maternity and occasion makeup and hair. Please call 650.394.4942 or email us at info@themakeupdolls.com to contact Indiana and Violet.

Monday, July 25, 2011

It's really Monday again! I can't help but get the Monday blues sometimes, another week working for the weekend. Violet and I were busy with two weddings this weekend and have to say the brides we both worked with were so much fun! I personally love being in the mix when everyone is getting ready for such an important day. I am like their best friend makeup artist and I couldn't be happier. I would say that doing makeup is my hobby, my passion hobby is guess.

While I was working, my husband who is turning into quite the photographer, attended a lighting workshop at a studio in San Francisco. I am hoping that all he learned can and will be applied in our makeup studio. After each trial we do a mini photo shoot and I can't wait to see how great our photos are going to be when he sets up the lights properly. My husband has always taken great photos with our "regular" cameras but now that he has purchased a DSLR, a few lenses and a whole host of things I know nothing about (can you tell me what a puffer is?). I thought I would share a few images he has recently taken. It seems that photography is now his hobby and I am so proud of him!

Makeup, photography...what's your hobby? I would love to hear from you!

Love that not-so-baby-anymore of mine Baby E!

Cool shades right? A little Mrs. Roper if you ask me!

All images Tim Fischer (well, I took them off the computer without telling him)

xo,Indiana

The Makeup Dolls can be booked for bridal, engagement, boudoir, maternity and occasion makeup and hair. Please call 650.394.4942 or email us at info@themakeupdolls.com to contact Indiana and Violet.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Too Faced has done it again! Their palettes for each "eye" look are always perfect, and this one is just that. The new Matte Eye Shadow Collection has everything you need for that smooth, matte eye look that is always in style. From Ivory to Taupe to Deep Charcoal, this collection of shadows provides you with so many options for day and night.

I love a matte shadow in the crease, especially a soft brown to create that sultry look without going too dark. I also enjoy sweeping deep charcoal and navy over my entire lid for a sexy smoky eye. Everyday you can have a different look! Just add a black liner and mascara and you are good to go.

This set can be purchased at Sephora and at only $36.00, you will love this set!xo,Violet

The Makeup Dolls can be booked for bridal, engagement, boudoir, maternity and occasion makeup and hair. Please call 650.394.4942 or email us at info@themakeupdolls.com to contact Indiana and Violet.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

My little family had a nice time tonight at a local evening farmers market. The city closes down a few blocks and when the weather is warm with a breeze, not much can be better. The tastiest food and freshest flowers are always a draw for me and a chance to get out for an outing before dinner and bedtime routine with a one year old are always welcome.

Do any of you go to a farmers market where you live? What do you buy? I buy all things pickled, beans...sauerkraut...my husband thinks my pickle obsession is disgusting. I also love tomatoes, the heirloom variety.

I always come home with a bouquet of flowers or two and these were no exception...

We are all booked up for weddings this weekend and can't wait to see our brides in their dresses! That really might be one of the best parts. Enjoy all!

xo,

Indiana

The Makeup Dolls can be booked for bridal, engagement, boudoir, maternity and occasion makeup and hair. Please call 650.394.4942 or email us at info@themakeupdolls.com to contact Indiana and Violet.

Today is the last day to enter to win the Smashbox Softbox Eye Shadow Palette! It features 9 shadows, 2 cream liners, a double ended brush and a Photo Finish Lid Primer. It's all you need for your eyes!

To enter the contest, follow our blog publicly and tell us one fun thing you did this weekend. Make sure your email is listed in your profile or send me an email with your address to indiana@themakeupdolls.com so I can contact you if you win.

That is all you have to do!

xo,Indiana

The Makeup Dolls can be booked for bridal, engagement, boudoir, maternity and occasion makeup and hair. Please call 650.394.4942 or email us at info@themakeupdolls.com to contact Indiana and Violet.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Happy 1st blog anniversary to us! Well we are just a few days late, it's was actually on the 15th but we had a busy weekend with my 34th (did I just type that?) and our grand opening party for our Beauty Studio yesterday!

It's funny to look back and read our very first post (here) and think about all of the things we have talked about on this blog. Violet and I really enjoy sharing with all of you and we enjoy even more receiving your comments and feedback.

So to celebrate our blog anniversary and our studio opening we have a give away, a Smashbox Softbox Eye Shadow Palette! It features 9 shadows, 2 cream liners, a double ended brush and a Photo Finish Lid Primer. It's all you need for your eyes!

To enter the contest, follow our blog publicly and tell us one fun thing you did this weekend. Make sure your email is listed in your profile or send me an email with your address to indiana@themakeupdolls.com so I can contact you if you win.

My fun thing was going out to dinner with my husband without our daughter Ellie. It's nice to eat a meal without picking food up off the floor the entire time and our opening party of course! Open to US residents only. Best of luck!xo,Indiana

The Makeup Dolls can be booked for bridal, engagement, boudoir, maternity and occasion makeup and hair. Please call 650.394.4942 or email us at info@themakeupdolls.com to contact Indiana and Violet.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

I am so excited to share pictures from one of our May 2011 brides Shirley. I have to start by saying she is a knock out and her photos byTinywater Photography are outstanding. The photography style was perfectly suited to their Theme Park wedding theme. Lots and lots of color and creativity abound! Shirley shared a few super cute detail shots that I will share with you in a post tomorrow. Until then here's some glam....

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

After a recent browsing session at Sephora, I came across my new favorite lip product, LipSurgence by Tarte! I have never used anything from this line before but couldn't resist these the smell, feeling and colors of this lip product. They smell like fresh peppermint and glide effortlessly on the the lips with the perfect amount of color and no stickiness!

I bought the Natural Lip Tint formulation for just a hint of color in Peaceful (the last one on the right) which is a perfect peachy nude and Enchanted (third from the left) a medium berry tone. I paired them with their Amazonian Clay 12 hour blush, which I LOVE too in Blushing Bride (plumy rose) and Exposed (nude).

My mom came down for a visit this past weekend and made off with my Enchanted LipSurgence and Blushing Bride but I have been wearing the nude version every day. I would highly recommended :)

xo,Indiana

The Makeup Dolls can be booked for bridal, engagement, boudoir, maternity and occasion makeup and hair. Please call 650.394.4942 or email us at info@themakeupdolls.com to contact Indiana and Violet.

Friday, July 8, 2011

This is a first for us! We have never done a Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Makeup Must Have's post but why not? There are incredible deals and finds to be had and Violet and I started our makeup artist careers at Nordstom at the Chanel counter. A few of the highlights:(Click here for the visual)

Laura Mercier has a fantastic set for $75.00 that includes one of my favorite primers, four wearable shadows in a set with a brush, cheek color and brush, lip gloss and mascara.

Nars has a hot, hot, hot shadow set for $55.00 that was created specifically for Nordstrom and is a limited edition and three polishes. The shadow set will be mine so I will do a post on that in a week or two.

Bobbi Brown's Tortoise Shell Beauty Kit is perfect for summer and into fall. A shimmer brick in Beach, creamy lip color in Toffee, shimmer lip gloss in Rose Gold, the famous gel liner in Black and an Extreme Party mascara. If that's not enough a mini liner brush and face blender brush.

Wishing you all a fantastic weekend! Violet and I will be working this weekend getting our studio touched up for our grand opening party on Sunday July 17th! If you live in the Bay Area please pass by and say hello! I will do a post on the party next week with all the details!

xo,Indiana

The Makeup Dolls can be booked for bridal, engagement, boudoir, maternity and occasion makeup and hair. Please call 650.394.4942 or email us at info@themakeupdolls.com to contact Indiana and Violet.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

A day late on my 4th of July weekend fun post but my husband, Baby E and I had a fantastic time at my mom's house on the weekend swimming, shopping and eating, as well as, a nice dinner at home on the 4th. Tim made the best grilled veggie salad from Cooking Light (click here for the recipe). Ellie wouldn't take a nap so we put her down early and did a little sparkler art in her honor. That was ONE cranky baby!

That's me after a lot of practice writing backwards. It is really not easy especially after a big dinner and a glass or two of wine ;)

Any tasty recipes you would like to share that you made this weekend?

xo,Indiana

The Makeup Dolls can be booked for bridal, engagement, boudoir, maternity and occasion makeup and hair. Please call 650.394.4942 or email us at info@themakeupdolls.com to contact Indiana and Violet.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Hope everyone enjoyed the holiday weekend! It was warm, warm, warm in The SF Bay Area this weekend, summer is defiantly here!

We all are going to hit the beach or pool sometime this season and with the money you spend on your hair color you need to protect it! I love this protection spray from Alterna, it smells amazing and is packed with antioxidants to protect from damage and contains yummy ingredients to add shine and maintain your color integrity. Think of it as sunblock for your tresses. Don't forget to get a cute hat to protect your scalp too!

xo,Violet

The Makeup Dolls can be booked for bridal, engagement, boudoir, maternity and occasion makeup and hair. Please call 650.394.4942 or email us at info@themakeupdolls.com to contact Indiana and Violet.